Ted Nelson and Xanadu

Ted Nelson originally invented the
word "hypertext" for "non-sequential
writing". His long-standing interest
in all things related to HT became
the Xanadu project. The Xanadu Operating
Company was owned for a while by
Autodesk, but later dropped. (Not
clear in 1993 what is going to happen
there)

He describes himself, his colleagues,
his philosophy and his project in
"Literary Machines" which is an attempt
to put his hypertext thoughts onto
paper. He publishes it himself (I
have a copy of LM 90.1 -TBL). This
is essential reading as background,
enthusiathm and ideas on hypertext.
(It includes also the text of Vannevar
Bush's "As we may think". This is
an article published in 1945 which
suggests that an automated "MEMEX"
(memory extension) would allow human
memory to be augmented by mechanical
means.) Xanadu has many interesting
concepts: for example, Nelson has
tackled the problem of generating
unique names for new documents such
that they can be found, and the Xanadu
project will aim to attribute royalties
to the author of a work whenever
it is retrieved across the network.
Ted also publishes a video of himself
explaining his ideas. T.H.Nelson,
Mindful Press 3020 Brudgeway Suite
295, Sausolito CA 94965, phone 415/331-442.